"Did you see that!?"
"What kind of technique was that!?"
"Who said that Xu Miao is trash!? He's a fucking monster!"
The spectators couldn't believe what they had seen when Xu Miao used Atomic Slash.
Usually, low-ranked martial artists gathered their qi into their weapon and unleashed their strike with the most powerful attack. They believed that finishing the fight as quickly as possible was the best way of fighting.
But Xu Miao was a hipster. Instead of using powerful techniques, he prioritized landing multiple weak attacks over a single strong attack. From his experience, one big attack could be easily countered, but multiple weak attacks were usually neglected. As such, stacking weak attacks against a strong opponent was easier than trying to land one critical strike in early matches.
This fighting style was unusual for the local population, especially the weak and the inexperienced. But for the masters who had been through bloody battles, they admired Xu Miao's combat tactic.
Jia Shan was one of the admirers. He had been paying attention to Xu Miao after the latter had bribed him, and he liked the skills and tactics that both Xu Miao and Wei Yuan had used.
'Good mindset and tactic! Most rookies only care about throwing the best skills, but those two know the basics. Once they grow up and get stronger, they can easily overcome deadly situations with this mindset. Those fools that only use strong techniques every time will eventually get themselves killed when they run into an experienced fighter.'
In life-and-death fights at a higher stage, masters could utilize their essence and display stronger techniques, which could easily kill their opponents as long as it landed. However, everybody with the strength of the 5th stage or higher always possessed at least 10 deadly techniques, so battles between masters were usually decided by skill efficiency, tactics, and power management.
Using absolute power to overwhelm the opponents was a good tactic, but it rarely worked against 4th stage cultivators or stronger. Zhu Yanyu had already shown an example that power wasn't everything. Trickeries, deceptions, and strategies were necessary for the combat of essences. Many experienced fighters with the strength of the 4th stage could easily defeat a naïve 6th stage who fought with only power-moves by utilizing proper tactics.
Thus, having the right mindset in the early stages was more important than increasing their cultivation base. By ingraining this attitude into instinct early on, the muscle memory would give them a jump start after reaching the 4th stage, when Yin and Yang Essence came into play. Those who used to fight with absolute power had to spend more time adapting to the changes, but both Xu Miao and Wei Yuan could proceed forward without having to practice these trickeries or tactics again.
Impressed by the couple, Jia Shan planned to make Wei Yuan his core disciple. As for Xu Miao, he would have to ask Xu Xiuying.
Jia Shan wasn't the only one who planned to make either Wei Yuan or Xu Miao their core disciple. By standing minor elders from both sects and Jian Meng also eyed both of them, and they planned to talk to the two after the event.
Unfortunately, Wei Huang released his killing intent, warning them that Wei Yuan would be his disciple. All masters shrunk back and sighed in pity.
.
.
.
After Wei Yuan and Xu Miao finished their little fight, Jian Meng continued managing the stage.
"Is there anyone who wishes to challenge an inner disciple?"
Jian Meng gazed at the top scorers on the leaderboard. Wei Yuan had already used her turn, and Xu Miao suffered a mild injury. Looking at the latter's condition, the elder believed that Xu Miao wouldn't fight anymore.
Only those who hadn't used their turn were Nie Ping, Wei Feng, Kang Yan, and Xie Tian.
"Wei Feng, are you going to challenge anyone?"
Asked directly by Jian Meng, Wei Feng's face twitched in annoyance, but his eyes were still looking at his J-Phone. He had been texting to his elder brother.
"No."
Without hesitation, Wei Feng forfeited his right to challenge anyone.
Since Wei Feng didn't care about the fourth round, Jian Meng turned to Xie Tian, Nie Ping, and Kang Yan, the only remaining top scorers who hadn't fought anybody yet.
Kang Yan stood up from her VIP seat and bowed to Jian Meng, "I would like to forfeit my turn. I have suffered a minor injury during the last round, and I'm not in the best condition to fight my senior."
Jian Meng nodded at Kang Yan and turned to Nie Ping, who was recuperating at the mountain goose VIP stand, "How about you?"
Nie Ping opened his mouth and was about to forfeit as well. But then, he glanced at Xu Miao, who had suffered from the skill backlash. The arm injuries looked severe since they swelled, and black veins were visible.
"I challenge Xu Miao to a life-and-death duel!"
Jian Meng was at a loss for words. It was so easy to read Nie Ping's intention, so the elder scolded the hot-blood youth, "Are you trying to start a war between our sects!?"
Nie Ping was taken aback. He turned toward Wei Yuan and pointed his finger at her, "She can challenge Xu Miao, why can't I!?"
"YOU'RE ASKING FOR A LIFE-AND-DEATH MATCH!! DO YOU TAKE ME FOR A FOOL!?"
Even though Jian Meng was a minor elder, he was a 5th stage master. His domineering aura terrified the youth.
"I-I-I'm sorry!"
"YOU CAN CHALLENGE XU MIAO, BUT YOU TWO CAN'T FIGHT IN A DEATHMATCH!! THAT'S THE RULES!!"
Nie Ping sulked. He bowed and muttered, "Then, I wish to forfeit my turn."
Jian Meng snorted and turned to Xie Tian, "What about you? Are you planning to challenge anyone!?"
The terrifying aura of Jian Meng also pressured Xie Tian. The latter suffered a bit of collateral damage to his psyche, but he mustered his courage and asked, "Can I challenge other test-taker?"
"Sure! You can challenge anyone. This round is for showing off your skills, so go ahead."
"Good. Then," Xie Tian glared at Wei Feng, who had a history with him, "I challenge Wei Feng to a life-and-death duel!"
As soon as Xie Tian announced his intention, Jian Meng lost it.
"ARE YOU TWO SONS-OF-BITCHES LOOKING FOR A FIGHT WITH ME!? I SAID YOU CAN'T FIGHT IN A DEATHMATCH!!"
The elder's voice echoed and pierced everybody's eardrums. Weak cultivators and commoners covered their ears and screamed in pain.
Xie Tian had a bitter smile on his face. Since he couldn't kill Wei Feng in this event, he decided not to push his luck, "I'm so sorry, senior. I've changed my mind. I won't challenge anyone."
Seeing that Xie Tian backed down, Jian Meng snorted. He turned to Jia Shan, planning to conclude this year's events.
Jia Shan nodded at Jian Meng. The sect master turned to the inner disciples, asking them with his eyes if there were anyone who wanted to challenge the newbies.
And Wei Xiang, the elder brother of Wei Feng, volunteered.
"I challenge Xie Tian to a death-match!"
Jian Meng glared at the inner disciple. It was fine if they challenged one of them, but trying to fight in a death-match despite his warning was like a slap to his face. It was a disgrace for a stronger cultivator to bully the weak.
…
"Haiz."
As a chief organizer, Jia Shan had a headache. Taming these hot-blooded youths was troublesome.
Having one or two idiots challenging someone in a death-match was shameful enough. Having TWO DISCIPLES wanting to kill outsiders because of their personal vendetta was an utter disgrace.
Since everything had come down to this path, Jia Shan didn't mind letting these fools fighting to the death. He already knew which one would win, and he didn't mind losing a few disciples to teach future disciples about moderation, patience, and tolerance.
"You know what? If you want to fight and kill each other that badly, go ahead! Those who wanted to kill somebody here, step forward and declare your enmity! I'll let you solve it as you wish! However, no inner disciple with the strength of the 4th stage or higher can get involved!"
If Nie Ping, Wei Feng, and Wei Xiang wanted blood that badly, it would be best to let them have it. However, Wei Xiang was too strong for Xie Tian, so Jia Shan didn't allow the eldest grandson of Wei Huang to join in this event.
"Nie Ping against Xu Miao, Xie Tian against Wei Feng! Regardless of the outcome, no family members can blame each other for the result! The four of you will fight in a death-match. The loser dies, and the winner takes all!"
Hearing Jia Shan's declaration, the crowd got excited. They loved this drama, and they got more stories to tell their friends.
…
Nie Ping laughed and jumped onto the stage. He also brought out his best weapon, a low-grade hammer. It was an enchanted warhammer, weighed 80kg. Although his weapon quality was mediocre, he had confidence that Xu Miao wouldn't be able to match his strength.
The previous match of Xu Miao gave Nie Ping the impression that the former lacked firepower, and he had to make up the strength difference with his cowardice tactics.
Nie Ping bowed at Jia Shan and other elders before he bellowed, "COME DOWN, XU MIAO! LET THIS FATHER TEACH YOU A LESSON WHY YOU SHOULDN'T MESS WITH THE MOUNTAIN GOOSE SECT!!"
Xu Miao rolled his eyes. He just wanted to chill and recuperate, but this asshole villain wanted a piece of him.
Without a choice, Xu Miao leaped from the silver phoenix stand and landed on the stage.
Jian Meng stood between them, preventing cheating acts, such as attacking the opponent before the start of the match. He reminded both men again.
"I'll warn both of you again! Death-Match rules are simple. You fight until one of you is dead! All loser's properties, items, money, wives, and children belong to the victor! Are you sure that you want to go through with this fight!?"
Nie Ping was still laughing. He used this chance to circulate his qi and envelop his aura around his warhammer. His yang qi burst, and his body temperature rose.
"Come on! Get on with it! Don't run away from me now, XU MIAO!!"
Xu Miao rolled his eyes. He turned to Jian Meng, "I'm fine with it. Since he wants to die that badly, I'll do you a favor and get rid of this idiot from your sect. Are you okay with it?"
"…"
Jian Meng didn't know what to say to these senseless young idiots. He only sighed and retreated, "… May the Goose God protect your soul. BEGIN!!"
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